Belt-lacing device



May' 7, l929 I G. E. PURPLE 1,711,652

BELT LAC ING DEVI CE Filed May 25, 1927 Patented May 7, l1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PURPLE, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, AS- SIGNOR T FLEXIBLE STEEL,LAC- ING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AV CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BELT-LACING' DEVICE.

Application filed May 215,

This invention relates to improvements in belt lacing device.

One object'oi' my invention is to provide a simple, eiiicientandrelatively inexpensive device for applying lacings to belts of anywidth.

Another' robject of my invention is to provide a hand-operated device ofthe type indicated in the preceding` paragraph adapted for belts oraprons up to tenk feet or even more inwidth, such as are commonly usedin laundry ironers and the like.

More specifically, an object of my inventiony is to provide a beltlacing device adapted for different width belts or aprons, wherein theholder 'for the belt lacing and the anvil as? sociated therewithare madein unit lengths adapted to be so assembled as to provide for any desiredwidth of belt or apron and'with which is associated a relatively small,travcling striker block, `adapted to be struck by a hammer or othersuitable tool, whereby the desired length of belt lacing correspondingto the full width of' the belt maybe 25. clinched by shifting thestriker block from point to point along the device and striking the samewith a hammer, all in a quick, expeditious manner.

' Other objects of the invention will more clearly and fully appear-fromthe description and claims hereinafter `following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is la top.plan View of a belt lacing device showing Vmyiimprovekments embodiedtherein. :In'thisy view, the device is broken off at one end and` alsobroken away intermediate its ends in order to illustrate the device on asuitablescale. Figure 2 is a vertical, transverse,.sectional viewcorresponding to the section line 2 9, of Figure 1 and illustrating theposition or the striker block just as ity engages the belt lacing. Inthis view, portions of the base are broken away to accommodate thefigure on the sheet. Figure 3 is avew similar to Figure 2, butillustrating'gthe position of the striker yblock whenthe' belt lacing ispartially clinched to thebelt'or apron. Figure 4 is a front elevationalvview of the striker block detached. Figure 5 is Aa top plan view of ayform oit'beltlacingv usable with my` improved device. lFigure 6 is aplan view of a portion of abelt'o'rapron theother parts. .Said base Awill be -made 1927. semi No. V194,019.

of suitable length corresponding tothe maxvimum width ol" belt or apronforfwhich the device is to be used, this length: 'frequently beingy asmuch-as ten feetland,.of course, may be more. f 70 Secured to the upperside of the base A, 'as by the bolts '10, is an elongated support B,which will also be made of a length cor'- responding approximatelyk tothe length of the base A. Said support kB preferably comprises a barlikeelement, which is suitably machined so as to provide a Hat bottom y 1 1;a vertical inner face 12 v'andan outer vertical face 18. On thetop, thebar support B is provided with an elongated guideway 14 near the inneredge thereof anda relatively wide elongated recess 15 rec tangular incross-section, for the purposes about tor be describedl Between theguideway 14 and the` recess 15, the support Bis thus 'left with anupstanding wide rib se'ction 16, to 'whichthe ylacingholder isi-se!cured.. i .i i The belt lacing holder, indicated generally bythereference characterC, consists of a plurality of unit sections 17-17,at their. adjacent ends abutted as indicatedV at 18 in Figure 1, saidunit sections being secured to the rib. 16 by. a series .of rmachinescrews 19-19. Each unit l17 will preferably be made of about onek footlength, thus adapting itfor economical manufacture and will be comprisedpreferably of brass. Inthis manner, it is evident that a holder of anyden sired length may be built up, cor.responding 100 to the maximumwidth of the beltor apron to be .operated upon andv further,` should anyVpart of the holder become'injured, it can readily be replaced byanother unit length of like construction.'Eachv unit section 17'of thelacing holder has the front face thereof beveled as indicated at and thefront edge slotted or milled so as to provide a plurality ofsubstantially triangular recesses 21 separated by triangular partitions22. In this manner, the prongs 23-23 of the belt lacing are adapted tobe received within the respective spaces 21 and the lacing held by meansof a holding pin 121i, which is extended lengthwise of the lacingholder' and passed through suitable alined holes in the partitions 22.As will be understood by those skilled in the art, thc lacing may besupplied in suitable lengths and one well known form of such lacing isindicated in the drawing. y y

In the manufacture of the holder unit sections and in assembling thesame on the sup- ,port B, itis essential that the units be Aaccuratelyaligned and the milling of the slot-s or recesses to receive the lacingbe uni form and to this end the unit sections 17 are each provided witha shallow groove 24 on the underface thereof. Said groove 24 is used asa gauge for the milling of the slotted edge of the holder and also thegrooves 24 of the assembled unit 17 receive a rod 25 extendedlengthwise` thereofand which accurately .fits the grooves 24 so that,when the units are thus assembled with the rod 25 in place, they areaccurately aligned and may then be secured in place by tightening thescrews 19. With this arrangement, it is evident that I ain not dependentupon the accuracy oflocation of the tapped holes for securing screws 19which may vary slightlyv under manufacturing conditions.

s will be evident from an inspection of Figures 2 and, the holder is ofa width corresponding substantially to the horizontal width of the rib16, thus presenting the most advanced part of the holder to a point inline with the front vertical edge of the rib 16. Disposed in theelongated recess 15 is the anvil of my improved device, said anvil beingindicated generally by the reference character D. The anvil is comprisedpreferably of a plurality of unit lengths 26-26 of vcase-hardened orotherwise suit ably hardened steel adapted to withstand the blowsincident to the clinching ofthe belt lacing. The anvil sections 26 .areof a depth slightly greater than the depth of the recess 15`and theupper faces of the anvil sections 26 are beveled downwardly and inwardlyalong their inner edges as indicated at 27, the innermost edges of thebeveled port-ions terminating substantially Vflush with the lowersurface of the holder C, forl the purpose hereinafter described. Bymaking the anvil in lunit sections corresponding preferably in length tothe unit sections of theholder, it will be seen that I can make thedevioeof any desired lengt-h andalso am enabled to effect replacementsat minimum cost.

or shear the fabric.

Cooperable with the holder andL anvil described in the preceding, is astriker block indicated'generally by the reference chan acter E. Saidstriker block E is preferably made of a length slightly less than halfof the length of the `unit sections of the lacing holder and is provided.on the top with a rounded striking surface 28, against which ythehammer impinges when clinching the acter F. The pin 31 is retained inposition y byany suitable means such as the cotters 3333- As will beevident from an inspeetion of the drawing, the arms 29 str'addle thecarrier F and the blockE is thus adapted to swing through an arc ofapproximately 180 with reference to the carrier F. Therblock E isprovided along its front edge with a depending suitably hardened section34, the bottom face 35 of which affords astriking face so located as toengage the upstaiiding vprongsrof the beltI lacing as indicated inFigure 2. The innermost portion of vthe striking face 35 is beveled orslightly rounded in a direction opposite to the beveled portion 27 oftheanvil soy that, when the striker block Eis in its lowermost position andat which time the lacing is clinched to the belt or apron 36, the twobeveled faces converge in a direction away from thel lacing holder. Thearrangement of the striking beveled faces of the striker block and anvilis an important feature particularly when the device is used inconnection with comparatively thin belts or aprons, such as canvas, andcorrespondingly smallsized belt lacings. It will also be noted, byi'eference to Figure 7, that the portions of the striking faces of theanvil and striker lblock which are remote from the holder, will beparallel or.` approximately parallel at the final clincliing opera-tion.With Vthis arrangement of oppositely beveled striking faces and parallelfaces, the prongs of the belt lacing may be properly clinched in thebelt or doubled over end of the apron and the outer faces ofthe prongsbrought flush with the outer faces of the belt or apron without dangerof the prongs of the lacing being forced so closely together as to tearFurther, the parallel portion of the faces ,will engage the apron orbelt outwardly of the lacing proper and hence the downward movementA ofthe striking block willV thus be limited'by the belt or of thelacingzwithout. danger of deforming the usual hingepin receiving portionof ,the lacing or danger of tearing or injuring the fabric or apron, ispositively assured.

apron.v In thismanner, proper application in a longitudinal rabbct 40provided on the bottom of the support or bar B. As'will be understood,the plate 89 is secured to the vcarrier F by suitablescrews 4l and thecarrier is slipped endwise' onto the support B and may be adjustedtovany point thereon.

In the operation of my device, a suitable length of belt lacing isinserted in the holder and secured therein by the pin 34 in the mannerindicated kbest in Figure 2. The edge of the belt or apron is thenpresented to the holder between the two sets of prongs of the lacing asindicated in the same view and then the striking block E is hammereddown preferably beginning at one s-ideof the belt and woi'kinggradually' along the entire width ofthe belt until the entire length oflacing is applied. The pin Q4 is thenl removed and the 'apron' or beltwith tlieflacing 'attach'edfalso removed. l

Iny the drawing, I- have illustrated one specific form of belt lacingand tol which the termlacing is technically correctly applied. 'Howevenas will be obviousvto those skilled inltheart, other forms of beltlacings or fasteners such as a series of individual hooks or staples maybe used with my improved device and I employ the terms lacing or beltlacing in the appended claims, broadly, to include any type of beltlacing or fastening.

V,From the preceding description taken in connection with the drawing,it will befevident that -my improvements may be ymanufactured atcomparatively small-cost and the device'made for any suitable width of`belt or apron. The lacing maybe applied readilyand without the aid ofanyspecial tools, the only tool required Vbeing a hammer or theequivalent. 1 1 Although I have herein shown and describedv thepreferred .manner lof carrying' out my invention, I am aware thatvarious changes and modifications could be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and all such changes and modifications arecontemplated asv come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a belt lacing device, the combination with al support having alacing holder thereon and an anvil extending lengthwise of and adjacentto said holder; of a carrier movable lengthwise of said support indefinite relation to said holder; and a striker block m'ovably attachedto said carrier and adapted to be positioned over the anvil and lacingheld in the holder at any point therealong.`

2. In a belt lacing device, the combination with a support having alacing holder thereon andan anvil extending lengthwise of and adjacentto said holder; of a carrier slidably mounted to move lengthwise ofsaid4 support in definite relation to said holder; and a striker blockniovably attached vto said carrier and adapted to be brought topositionover said anvil in cooperative relation theretoV at anyv pointtherealong.v

3. In a belt lacing device, the combination l with a supporthavingalacing holder thereon and an anvil extending lengthwise of andadjacent to said holder; of acarrier movable lengthwise ofsaid supportin deliniterelation to said holder; and a striker block pivotallyattached to said carrier and having a striking face adapted to bevbrought to cooperative position relative to said anvil at any pointtlierealoiig.

4. In a belt lacing device, the combination with a support havingalacing holderv thereon and an anvil extending lengthwise of andadjacent to, said holderyof a carrier f i slidably mounted lengthwisevof said suppOit; and a striker block pivotally attachedV to 'saidvcarrier and movable in .unison therewith, said striker block having` astriking face adapted to be brought int-oV cooperative relation withsaid anvil at any lpoint along the latter. c

5. AIn a belt lacing device,pthe combination with an elongatedsupport;of an elongated belt lacing holder fixedly imounted onand extendinglengthwise of vsaid support, .said holder comprising a plurality of unitsections abutted end to end; an elongated anvil extended lengthwise ofand adjacent the holder; and means cooper-able with saidv anvil andlongitudinally vmovable above the abutted sections of saidA support forclinching'the belt lacing heldv in said holder.

6. 'In a belt lacing device, the combination with an, elongated support;of a lacing liolderfextended lengthwise ofr and fixedly secured tosaidsupport, said holder-coinprising a plurality of unit sections abuttedend to end and having alignedA slots therein; means rfitting within saidslots and extending the length of said unit sections to thereby maintaintheir alignment; an elongated anvil disposed in front ofv and adjacentsaid holder; and mea-ns cooperable with said yanvil and longitudinallymovable above the abutted sections of said support for applying a beltlacing held in said holder.

7 In a belt lacing device', the combination withV an elongated support;of a lacing holder extended lengthwise of said support and comprised ofa plurality of unit sections with a support having a lacing holder; ofV

an anvil disposed in operative position relative to said holder, saidanvil having its 'striking face adjacent the holder beveled;

and a pivotally mounted striking block cooperable with said anvil, saidblock having its striking face beveled opposite to the bevel of theanvil whereby, as the two said striking faces are brought toward eachother to clinch a belt lacing therebetween, said faces converge in adirection away from the holder.

9. In a belt lacing device, the combination with a horizontally disposedsupport having a lacing holder mounted thereon; of an anvil extendinglengthwise of the holder adjacentv the edge of the latter; said anvilhaving its upper face disposedpartly in a horizontal plane and partly ina plane inclined downwardly toward the holder; of a striking blockpivoted rearwardly of the holder and having fa striking face adapted tocooperate with that of the anvil, the striking face of said block beingalso inclined oppositely to the inclined portion of the anvil.

10. In a belt lacing device, the combination with a support providedwith an anvil; of a lacing holderalso mounted on said supportga carrierslidable lengthwise of the support and holder; and a striker block piv-Votally attached to said carrier, said block having a relativelyelongated striking face7 the latter being beveled at its ends in directions awa-y from the anvil, when the block is in cooperative positionlrelative to the anvil. Y-

11. In a belt lacing device, t-he combination with an elongated base; ofan elongated supporting bar secured to said base, said supporting barhaving a recess extending lengthwise thereof; an anvil disposed in saidre-` cess and comprised of a plurality of unit sections abutted end toend; an elongated holder mounted on said supporting bar in cooperativerelation with said holder comprising a plurality of unit sectionsabutted end to end; a carrier slidably mounted on said supporting barand adapted Vto be shifted to any position therealong; and a strikingblock pivotally attached to` said carrier and adapted to be broughtopposite the anvil to cooperate with lthe latter in clinehing afastener. j

12. In a belt lacing device, the combination with an elongated base; ofan elongated supporting bar secured to said basesaid supporting barhaving a recess extending lengthwise thereof; an anvil disposed in saidrecess and comprised of al plurality of unit sections abutted end toend; an elongated holder mounted on said supporting bar inV cooperativerelation with said anvil, said holder comprising a plurality of unitsections abutted end to end`;.a carrier slidably mounted on saidsupporting bar andY adapted to be shifted to any position therealong;and a `striking block pivotally attached to said carrier and adapted tobe brought opposite the anvil to cooperate with the latter in clinchinga fastener, the striking' faces of the anvil and blockbeing each beveledin. opposite directions and converging in a direction away from theholder.

13. In a belt lacing device, the combination with an elongated support;of an elongated belt lacing holderinounted on and extending lengthwiseof .saidl support, said holder vcomprising a plurality ofYinterchangeable unitV sections abutted end to end in straight alignment;.and cooperable striking and anvil means operatively associated withsaid holderfor clinching a belt lacing held therein, said striking meansbeing movable relatively to the aligned sections of said holder. j 14.In a belt lacing-device, the combination with a support having a laceholder; of an anvil disposed adjacent and at the front side of saidholder; .and a Vpivotally mounted striking blockI cooperable; with saidanvil, said block and anvil having striking faces which, at the portionsnearestthe holder, are oppositely beveled and convergedin a directionaway from the holder and outwardly of the .beveled port-ions aredisposed substantially parallel, when the striker block is in itsextreme clinching position.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 19th day of May, 1927.

GEORGE E. PURPLE.

